Written Answers Tuesday 4 August 2009

Scottish Executive

Birds

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the pilot trapping of sparrowhawks ceased for the breeding season.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sparrowhawks were trapped in the period leading up to the cessation of the pilot for the breeding season.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sparrowhawks were (a) trapped and (b) fitted with radio tags before release as part of the pilot trapping.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what average length of time sparrowhawks trapped as part of the pilot have been held prior to release.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the distance from capture was of the release of any sparrowhawks captured in the first part of the pilot trapping.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of whether sparrowhawks have returned to their original site following capture and release as part of the pilot trapping.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is that other sparrowhawks have occupied the territory of sparrowhawks trapped and released elsewhere during the first phase of the pilot.

Roseanna Cunningham: The information requested will be made available in a comprehensive report on all aspects of the pilot project to assess the effectiveness of translocating sparrowhawks to reduce predation on racing pigeons. The report is currently being finalised and I expect to publish it shortly.

Digital Technology

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the broadband coverage of the highland Perthshire area.

Jim Mather: Basic broadband coverage, defined as 512 Kbps, is now generally available throughout Scotland. This is following successful completion of the Scottish Government’s Broadband Reach Project in May 2009. The project, delivered by Avanti Communications Ltd, is providing an affordable, basic broadband service to the demand known to the Scottish Government, in the (less than) 1% of the population previously unable to access a broadband service due to distance from the exchange.

  The Scottish Government is satisfied that all known broadband demand in highland Perthshire and the Angus Glens area, which Avanti is able to serve and which wished to take up this service, has now been met.

Employment

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has sought a meeting with the chief executive of Diageo to discuss the company’s proposals concerning its operation in Glasgow and Kilmarnock and, if so, when this request was made.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the chief executive of Diageo agreed to a meeting with the First Minister to discuss the company’s proposals concerning its operations in Glasgow and Kilmarnock and, if so, when such an agreement was received.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a recent meeting between the First Minister and the chief executive of Diageo has taken place and, if so, when this meeting occurred and who was present.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was necessary for a substitute to represent the First Minister at any recent meeting with the chief executive of Diageo and, if so, who the substitute was and who else was present.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who arranged any meeting involving the First Minister, a minister or a substitute with the chief executive of Diageo that has taken place in the last two weeks.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its officials has arranged a recent meeting with the chief executive of Diageo at which the First Minister or a minister was not present and, if so, who attended.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its officials was present at any recent meeting with the chief executive of Diageo at which the First Minster or a minister was not in attendance and, if so, who attended.

John Swinney: The First Minister asked for a meeting with Paul Walsh when he met with Diageo on Thursday 2 July, and when he spoke to Mr Walsh on the telephone later the same day. Mr Walsh agreed to meet the First Minister on his return from China.

  A meeting took place with Mr Walsh on 22 July. Also present were David Gosnell, Ian Wright and Ken Robertson of Diageo and Jack Perry, Chief Executive, Scottish Enterprise.

Income

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average wage was in each year since 1999, broken down by Scottish parliamentary constituency.

Jim Mather: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics. Information on earnings for Scottish parliamentary constituencies are available from 2004 onwards.

  The table below provides estimates of gross weekly earnings by Scottish parliamentary constituency. The estimates are residence-based so cover employees living in each constituency.

  Weekly Pay - Gross (£) - For All Employee JobsA, Scotland 2004-08

  

 
 2004
 2005
 20061
 20062
 2007
 2008


 Median
 Median
 Median
 Median
 Median
 Median


 Scotland 
 323.7
 333.4
 347.6
 345.5
 360.2
 376.8


 Aberdeen Central
 316.7
 307.1
 348.8
 346.3
 395.4
 356.7


 Aberdeen North
 321.5
 328.4
 344.5
 343.4
 360.9
 382.1


 Aberdeen South
 348.7
 382.6
 428
 422.3
 403.6
 423.3


 Airdrie and Shotts
 310
 324.9
 345
 343.5
 348
 357.4


 Angus
 338.1
 348.2
 362.5
 361.5
 363.3
 392.8


 Argyll and Bute
 289.8
 287.4
 293.5
 292
 278.9
 334.7


 Ayr 
 342.6
 380.9
 373.3
 374.5
 393.6
 369.8


 Banff and Buchan
 302.3
 310.9
 299.6
 299.5
 313.5
 329.5


 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
 320
 293.6
 271
 271.1
 289
 333.4


 Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
 356.3
 365.3
 370.5
 360.9
 382.1
 388.1


 Central Fife 
 312
 292.6
 321.6
 322.5
 352.6
 328.8


 Clydebank and Milngavie
 298.7
 283.5
 314.6
 314.6
 340.7
 353.7


 Clydesdale
 344.2
 347.2
 377.3
 377.1
 386.6
 398.9


 Coatbridge and Chryston
 300.7
 297.3
 345.7
 351.5
 342.2
 353.1


 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
 307
 320
 327.2
 326.2
 325.5
 340.5


 Cunninghame North
 314.1
 367.1
 332.7
 333.1
 333.9
 340.5


 Cunninghame South
 296.8
 343.5
 338.7
 331.5
 348.2
 358.3


 Dumbarton
 333.4
 326.9
 314.2
 309.6
 372.6
 358.1


 Dumfries 
 294
 304.4
 311.4
 310.9
 320.6
 347.3


 Dundee East
 284.3
 325.8
 316.2
 318.3
 344.1
 340.3


 Dundee West
 291.5
 282.2
 335.5
 335.5
 325.5
 351.8


 Dunfermline East
 336.2
 326.7
 348.3
 342.8
 315.2
 387.6


 Dunfermline West
 304.3
 320.8
 323.8
 322.3
 348
 367.8


 East Kilbride 
 345.3
 339
 350
 349.8
 411
 402.5


 East Lothian 
 330.5
 346.5
 365.4
 364
 377.9
 430


 Eastwood
 383.9
 408
 422.2
 412.6
 429.7
 441.6


 Edinburgh Central
 365.5
 385.1
 408.5
 406.3
 416.7
 425.6


 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
 365
 383.3
 369.3
 365.5
 384.9
 398.7


 Edinburgh North and Leith
 356.3
 414.7
 436.4
 427.9
 455.8
 436.8


 Edinburgh Pentlands
 318.9
 338.4
 354.1
 353.6
 372
 401.1


 Edinburgh South
 331
 365
 384.4
 383.1
 407.7
 439.4


 Edinburgh West
 381.2
 402.5
 410.6
 409.7
 346.7
 403.2


 Falkirk East
 335.9
 322.8
 364.8
 362.5
 378
 381.6


 Falkirk West
 319.6
 324.9
 330.9
 329.5
 367.3
 392.5


 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
 297.1
 299.6
 331.5
 328.1
 334.5
 353.6


 Glasgow Anniesland
 332.6
 342.9
 372
 368.7
 357.1
 356.5


 Glasgow Baillieston
 286.6
 313.7
 322.2
 322.2
 341.3
 351.5


 Glasgow Cathcart
 293.6
 324.1
 321.3
 322.2
 379.9
 389


 Glasgow Govan
 341.4
 352.6
 353.4
 350.8
 379.3
 430


 Glasgow Kelvin
 403.9
 425.6
 416.8
 412.9
 409.6
 461.8


 Glasgow Maryhill
 282.8
 288.6
 302.4
 302.2
 312.3
 337.4


 Glasgow Pollok
 294.8
 320.3
 329.9
 328.4
 340.8
 354


 Glasgow Rutherglen
 323.5
 322.1
 347.3
 342.5
 384.5
 409.9


 Glasgow Shettleston
 300.5
 309.1
 300.7
 301
 318.8
 318.4


 Glasgow Springburn
 269.7
 295.3
 318.8
 317.6
 294.8
 307.7


 Gordon
 335.7
 340
 350.8
 349.4
 369.5
 404.8


 Greenock and Inverclyde
 301.4
 333.2
 321
 316.3
 342.1
 358.1


 Hamilton North and Bellshill
 331.2
 358.5
 358.5
 357
 358.3
 379.2


 Hamilton South
 353.8
 310.5
 334.6
 335.9
 342.9
 383.4


 Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber
 308.3
 306.5
 323.8
 321.9
 319.4
 356.3


 Kilmarnock and Loudoun
 319.9
 331.5
 344.2
 342.9
 387.1
 373.4


 Kirkcaldy
 312
 298.4
 326
 326.9
 339.2
 388.4


 Linlithgow
 307.1
 318.3
 345
 344.7
 362.8
 374.5


 Livingston 
 334.7
 334.9
 343.1
 343.3
 344.1
 366.1


 Midlothian 
 304.5
 320
 329.7
 330
 360
 355.9


 Moray
 286.2
 288.1
 291.9
 290.2
 318.9
 333.8


 Motherwell and Wishaw 
 325.5
 348.2
 358.7
 352.2
 355.8
 366.8


 North East Fife
 350.9
 338.9
 367.3
 362.9
 421.8
 400.7


 North Tayside 
 300.1
 293.7
 334.6
 325.2
 344.6
 358.8


 Ochil
 305.1
 295
 317.6
 315.5
 332.3
 370.4


 Orkney and Shetland
 304.9
 345.6
 316.2
 313.2
 351.2
 371.8


 Paisley North
 314.3
 282.3
 350.6
 350.9
 361.2
 374.2


 Paisley South
 324
 318.4
 308
 303.5
 319.5
 350.4


 Perth 
 313.3
 318.5
 338.8
 339.6
 340.3
 338.9


 Ross, Skye and Inverness West
 300.1
 301.6
 323
 323.2
 325.6
 366.2


 Roxburgh and Berwickshire
 289.5
 299
 309.6
 308.5
 329.5
 358.8


 Stirling 
 338.2
 322.9
 373.2
 364.6
 379.9
 374.5


 Strathkelvin and Bearsden
 360.7
 399.6
 396.6
 398.2
 375.1
 394.5


 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale
 305.3
 307.7
 331.2
 329
 363.5
 348.3


 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
 353.4
 365
 388.3
 389.1
 425.8
 436.5


 West Renfrewshire 
 375
 416.7
 391.4
 390.9
 385.4
 487


 Western Isles
 264.9
 308.2
 355.9
 351.8
 355.1
 364.8



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  A. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.

  B. Residence based estimates.

  1. Methodology consistent with 2005.

  2. Methodology consistent with 2007.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24486 by Kenny MacAskill on 10 June 2009, what action it will take to improve the collection of data on homicide cases, given that in 42% of cases in 2007-08 it was not known whether the person accused was drunk or under the influence of drugs.

Kenny MacAskill: There will always be homicide cases where the drink and drug status of the accused is unknown. A person accused of murder is not always arrested at the time of the offence, so in many cases their condition at that time cannot be assessed by a police surgeon or other police officer.

  Forces provide data on drink or drug status of the accused by extracting available information from the standard police report submitted to the procurator fiscal or by contacting the investigating officer for the case. If during the inquiry witnesses make comments about the accused that lead to inferences being made about their drink or drug status then this will be recorded as such.

Scottish Investment Bank

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with the business community prior to the announcement in April 2009 of the establishment of a Scottish Investment Bank.

Jim Mather: As no changes were proposed to the three funds initially comprising the Scottish Investment Bank (the Scottish Seed Fund, Scottish Co-investment Fund and Scottish Venture Fund), there was no consultation with the business community prior to the announcement.

Scottish Investment Bank

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with the business community since the announcement in April 2009 of the establishment of a Scottish Investment Bank.

Jim Mather: Since the announcement on 21 April we have met with representatives from the Scottish Trade Union Council, LINC Scotland, the Federation of Small Businesses, CBI Scotland, Scottish Council for Development and Industry and Scottish Financial Enterprise. The purpose of these discussions has been to inform the development of the Scottish Investment Bank.

Scottish Investment Bank

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be available to the Scottish Investment Bank.

Jim Mather: As the First Minister announced on 21 April, the Scottish Investment Bank will initially comprise approximately £150 million in available public sector resource. We are also considering what further resources might be available to enhance the scale of those funds.

Scottish Investment Bank

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of funding available to the Scottish Investment Bank will come from the (a) Scottish Co-investment Fund, (b) Scottish Venture Fund and (c) Scottish Seed Fund.

Jim Mather: The proportion of funding currently available to the Scottish Investment Bank in percentage terms from the (a) Scottish Co-investment Fund, (b) Scottish Venture Fund and (c) Scottish Seed Fund is approximately (a) 60%, (b) 37% and (c) 3%.

Scottish Investment Bank

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of funding available to the Scottish Investment Bank will not come from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund or the Scottish Seed Fund.

Jim Mather: We are currently working to identify what further resources may be available to the Scottish Investment Bank. Until that work is finalised it is not possible to provide a figure for what proportion of funding will come from sources other than the three existing funds.

Social Work

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20491 by Adam Ingram on 19 February 2009, what the most recent information is on the number of social work vacancies in each local authority.

Adam Ingram: The number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) vacancies in local authority social work services broken down by local authority and staff group is published in table 21 of the Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services, 2008 Statistics Publication Notice which is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00741.

  The Scottish Parliament Information Centre Bib. number is 48679.